Azerbaijan intends to become NATO membership contender, said Azeri defense minister Safar Abiyev upon completion of talks with his Bulgarian counterpart Nikolay Svinarov, Baku media reported. "After the NATO Istanbul summit scheduled in May 2004 and then passing the way already overcome by Bulgaria, Azerbaijan will become candidate for NATO membership," S. Abiyev said. He reported that at present they work for forming an individual program of partnership between Azerbaijan and the NATO.